Hong Kong Arts Festival: Celebrating Culture Hong Kong Style

I was lucky enough to live in Hong Kong for a while - a vibrant and dynamic city, it brings together the best of the East and the West. When I remember my time there, I recall the sensational food, awesome shopping and brightly lit skyline. Unfortunately, I don’t recall exploring the vibrant art of Hong Kong. Now I wish I had spent more time doing so.

The city celebrates its creative traditions in a grand way at The Hong Kong Arts Festival, one of the largest cultural events in Asia, to be held from February 21 to March 22. It covers the spectrum of arts ranging from Chinese Opera to World Music to the theatre of Hong Kong. Founded in 1973, it exhibits cultural programs from around the world, and of course Hong Kong and China.

 

Artists of the world unite

The festival aims to comprehensively cover a wide variety of crafts, making it an exciting and unmissable event on the international arts circuit. Local artists demonstrate their creative talents through theatre, chamber opera and contemporary dance.

Internationally acclaimed artists come from around the globe to participate in this premier arts festival. Prior attendees include Juliette Binoche, Kevin Spacey, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Jose Carreras, the Buena Vista Social Club and Royal Shakespeare Company.

Explore the city

The festival also showcases the city of Hong Kong and its diverse regions. Performances are held in bookstores, parks, churches, malls and amongst the small alleys that snake their way through the city. It is this ingenuity that also highlights what makes Hong Kong such an invigorating city to visit and live in. The enthralling atmosphere envelopes the island, bringing it alive with performance and theatrics.

However, The Hong Kong Arts Festival expands beyond performance and has a strong focus on education.  Lectures, master-classes, workshops, guided tours and backstage visits make the festival an interactive event.

New experiences

The 41^st edition of the festival will be launched by the American Ballet Theatre’s production of Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Spanning over a month through February and March 2013, tickets for the festival have almost sold out and the demand is going to only get higher in the coming weeks. Over 1,500 performers are expected to take the stage over the course of this festival in Hong Kong. Innovative performances, such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s fusion of music and nature in The Reef to the romantic comedy by David Henry Hwang called Chinglish, demonstrate the diversity of talent that flocks to be a part of this event.

 

Take in the sights

While there is plenty to keep you busy at this event, if you are there, it would be nice to take some time out to see the famous Hong Kong landmark Victoria Peak. A tram takes you up the mountain, and at the summit this effervescent city is laid out before you. Hong Kong Harbour glistens in the sunlight and depending upon where you look, one can feel surrounded by skyscrapers or lost in a verdant forest. I used to enjoy visiting the Peak and wandering away from the crowd along the path that circumnavigates the peak. Seeing Hong Kong in all its glory can truly give you a perspective on just how amazing this fabulous city is.

Want to attend The Hong Kong Arts Festival? MakeMyTrip offers convenient flights to Hong Kong.